9 Ecureuil/A-Stars and two EC135s carried out security missions during the Pan-American and Para Pan-American games in Rio de Janeiro from 13 to 29 July 2007. An account.

This year some 5,500 athletes from 42 countries gathered for the Pan-American Games, a major international sporting event, where they competed in 36 disciplines before the eyes of around 800,000 spectators and millions of television viewers. An event of this magnitude meant that special measures had to be taken to ensure maximum security for both athletes and spectators. The Rio de Janeiro state government therefore invested in training security personnel, modernising their equipment (cars and helicopters) and integrating the various police forces. These measures provided the means for close aerial surveillance from a base at Jacarepaguá airport in the western part of the city.
The aerial surveillance missions were carried out by a total of 170 people – including technical crew, instructors and administrative personnel – led by Lieutenant- Colonel BMRS Kleber Senisse, using six AS350 Ecureuil/A-Star helicopters operated by the National Secretariat for Public Security (SENASP), which is responsible for coordinating aerial safety. In preparation for these operations, technicians from the State Civil Defence took part in joint training with the aerial operations group of the Rio de Janeiro State Military Police and Fire Brigade. The Ecureuil helicopters were accompanied by two EC 135s, one of which is normally used by the Brazilian Federal Revenue department to fight customs fraud, while the other is used by the fire brigade.
Two AS350 B2 and one AS350 B3 helicopters operated by the CAOA – Coordenadoria Adjunta de Operações Aéreas, consisting of the civil police, the fire brigade, the Military Aviation Group and the Federal Revenue department – were also deployed for observation, air patrolling and police missions. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Pinho, Commander of the Air Maritime Group of Rio de Janeiro’s Military Police, the helicopters spent a total of 378 hours in the air during the games, of which 331 flight hours involved law enforcement activities, with the fire brigade accounting for a further 47 hours in flight time. These figures reflect the coverage of 392 events, including the escort of various delegations, the transport of persons in the context of police operations, and the evacuation of casualties. “The experience traded between the three organisations was enriching and undoubtedly marks the beginning of a new era”, insisted Lieutenant-Colonel Pinho.